(8TH CENT.)
[From the life of S. Domitius, October 23rd; and from an ancient
life of the Saint.]
[Illustration: S. ULPHIA. From Cahier.
Jan 31.]
The blessed Ulphia was the daughter of noble parents in Gaul, she was
singularly beautiful in face and graceful in person; consequently she
was sought by many suitors, but, with her father's consent she vowed to
observe perpetual chastity. At the age of twenty-five she received the
veil from the hands of the Bishop of Amiens, and then she retired to S.
Acheuil at some little distance from the city, where she ministered to
S. Domitius, an aged hermit and canon of Amiens. The old man was wont to
knock at the door of her little hut as he passed on his way to matins,
and she rose and accompanied him. Now the place was marshy and many
frogs inhabited the pools. One night they sang so shrilly that Ulphia
could not sleep, but tossed on her couch, and drew her serge-habit about
her ears, without being able to stop their voices from penetrating her
brain and keeping her awake. After many hours she fell asleep. Shortly
after, Domitius came by and rapped with his stick at the door. There was
no answer, so he called, "Ulphia, my child, get up!" Then he rapped
louder than before. Still there was no answer, so he called, "Ulphia, my
child, the second watch of the night is past." As he received no answer,
he supposed she had gone on before. But when he reached the church, he
looked round, and he saw her not. And when matins was over, he returned
in haste and fear, thinking something had befallen his dear child. But
when he came to the cell, Ulphia stood in the door. Then she reproached
him for not having called her. "I did call thee, I knocked loud," said
the old man. "It was the frogs' doing!" exclaimed Ulphia, and she told
him how they had kept her awake half the night. Then casting herself on
the ground, she prayed to God to quiet the noisy frogs; and Domitius
knelt beside her and said, Amen. After that the reptiles troubled her no
more.
When she was dying she prayed, "Saviour! sanctify, confirm, keep, rule,
strengthen, comfort me; and in the end bring me to Thy sempiternal
joys." And when the two virgins who had watched by her had said Amen,
she fell asleep, and they left her. At dawn, one of them looked in and
saw that she was dead, and in dying she had crossed her hands upon her
breast, her face was bright and her lips as though she smiled.